Vasoline on combs?

[Mac in Wisco]

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Yes, it was fairly common during WWII to use salves to protect the face from frostbite. I know some skiers that recommend it too.

The "experts" don't recommend it as it can lead to a false sense of security, but if the snow is blowing it can melt on your face and the moisture increases heat loss leading to frostbite. The vaseline creates a barrier to keep the moisture off the skin.

The same goes for chickens. High humidity can lead to frostbite because the moisture freezes and settles just like frost on the birds where it melts and moistens their exposed areas. Vaseline can seal out the moisture.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

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if our lips had the same ammount of bloodflow that close to the surface of our skin, we would have bright red vchicken comb lips! actually, that would save me alot of money in lipstick...

 

[johny]

Chap stick may prevent dry fissuring and cracking of human lips in cold dry environments.

Our lips have ultra thin skin and a fierce amount of blood flow. It is very hard to frostbite a lip with so much warm blood flowing through it.
But it can dehydrate easily and that can cause fissuring. Unfortunately the unconscious effort of licking our lips makes the problem worse by introducing mildly caustic digestive enzymes from our salivary (spit) glands. The dry fissured skin degenerates further and fissures worse.

Vaseline makes a barrier to prevent your drool from worsening a condition caused by the hostile dry cold environment of winter.

Is there an equivalent condition in chickens?
Honestly, I do not know. But I don't think any chicken drool ends up on their combs.

But are there glands in that regional that produce moisture that could be an issue in winter?
Any veterinary opinions on the board?

 

[aubreynoramarie]

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uhhh.....maybe not glands but....idk...SNOW? RAIN? just saying, thats why i would do it to my girls, keep the hail/sleet/rain/snow that we get CONSTANTLY off

 

[jarcoo0153]

Well, I am still trying it out. I have a WFB-Spanish and I am worried that since tomorrow it will be around 10 degrees, he might get some damage. I am going to cover the coops with tarps to help cut the wind down. I think that they will be fine!